John Beake, the man who helped bring John Elway to Denver and guided the Broncos to two Super Bowl titles, died at 87.
The franchise announced Beake’s death Saturday. No cause of death was given.
“The Broncos are saddened by the passing of longtime executive John Beake, who made an enduring impact on our organization during more than two decades with the team,” Denver said in a statement. “John helped guide the Broncos to five Super Bowl appearances, including back-to-back world championships, and was a respected leader throughout one of the most successful eras in franchise history.”
Denver Broncos head coach Dan Reeves was promoted to vice president of the club while acting general John Beake was named general manager. (The Denver Post)
Beake worked for the Broncos from 1979 to 2000, serving as the team’s general manager for 14 years. One of his most significant moves came in 1983, when he helped acquire quarterback John Elway in a trade with the Baltimore Colts. Elway eventually became a Hall of Famer, winning Super Bowls with Denver after the 1997 and 1998 seasons.
During Beake’s tenure as general manager, the Broncos won seven division titles, made 12 playoff appearances and reached five Super Bowls.
In 2000, Beake became the team’s vice president of administration before joining the NFL’s league office, where he held several administrative roles.
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